Ditching-machine.



No. 788,965. PATBNTED MAY 2, 1905. W. UMSTBAD.

DITGHING MACHINE.

urmommu rum] mm. 20. 1904.

a sums-sum 1.

WITNESSES:

ATTOBNEKS' PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

W. UMSTEAD.

DITCHING MACHINE. uruoivnon FILED $110.30, 1904.

INVENTOR WCZZZQF Zfirzsiead ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES Patented May 2, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

DIT CHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,965, dated May 2, 1905.

Application filed August 30. 1994. Serial No. 222.694.

, To all whom, it may concern.-

machine for making ditches for the purpose of underdraining land with tile, slate, or the like and to provide a construction of ditch- ,ing-machinc wherein the ditching Inechan ism may be conveniently raised and lowered bodily and held in adjusted position, so that :by successive operations the ditch can be gradually deeplened until the required depth 1s reached wit out undue strain on the team, producing a clean-cut ditch with straight-cut walls ready to be filled.

Another urpose of the invention is to so construct tlie plow that it will have a forward] I and downwardly curved oint and a straig t smooth shank by which t is loosened .dirt is carried until said dirt reaches a combined switch and win all automatically adjustable on the shan of the plow, which switch directs the ascending dirt to one side edge of the plow-shank at the top of the ditch, where the wing, which travels over the surface of the ground, sweeps the dirt away from the mouth of the ditch. The wing and switch accommodate themselves to the difference of depth in the ditch.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide knives or cutters which serve to out the sod and trim and straighten the sides of the ditch and in connection with their supports constitute guides for the plow.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a right-hand side elevation of the machine, the axle being in transverse section. Fig. 2.is a front elevation of the machine. 3 is a horizontal section taken practicall on the line 3 3 of F' 2, and F 4 is a deta' sectional view of t e means employed for raising and lowering the ditching mechanism.

A represents the beam, which is referably in the form of an inverted channe -iron, and the tongue or pole is secured to the forward right-hand end portion of said beam. The axle 11 is an arched axle and is secured in any approved manner upon the upper face of the beam A. Its terminals 12 are straight, and on said terminal portions supportingwheels 13 are mounted to turn. A seat 11 is provided, supported byasuitable standard 11 the said standard being secured to the axle in 1011 itudinal alinement' with the ton no or pd le 10, and it may be here remar ed that the neck-yoke is preferably mounted to slide on the said tongue, so that the horses can advance as the ditching mechanism is carried downward in deepening the ditch.

At the rear portion of the beam A a shaft 14 is mounted to turn, and this shaft extends beyond the left-hand side of the said beam, 8. crank-arm 15 being secured to the extending portion of the said shaft. This crank-arm 15 where it is joined to the shaft is provided with a ratchet-wheel 16, enga ed by a pawl 17, pivoted on the beam A. T e rearwardlyextending yoke 18 is loosely mounted at its extremities on the said shaft 14 within the beam A, and a pinion 20 is secured to the shaft 14 between the members of the yoke. This yoke at its right-hand side is provided with a longitudinal slot 19, and at the slotted portion of the yoke a uide-bar 22 is located, extending above and Eelow said yoke. This uide-bar is adjustably secured to the yoke y a suitable bolt or its e uivalent passed through the said slot. Friction-wheels 23 are pivoted at the end portions of the guidebar 22, which friction-wheels are in vertical alinement with the space between the members of the yoke 18. The shaft 14 and connected parts form a portion of an elevating device for the ditching mechanism to be hereinafter described.

The ditching mechanism is constructed as follows: A horizontal head-bar 24 is provided which is L-shaped in cross-section and at its rear end is provided with a projection 25 at the left-hand edge, and a flange 26 is carried upward from this projection parallel with the vertical member of the said hcad-bar, as is shown in Fig. 3. An anchorlate 27 is socured to the right-hand side of the head-bar 24 at the rear, and this anchor-plate extends downward some dis tance below the said headbar. A standard 28, angular in cross-section, is secured by means of the member facing the left-hand side of the device to the said anchor-plate 27, and in the outer longitudinal ed e of this standard 28 a slideway 29 is forme The lower end 30 of this standard is more or less forwardly and downwardly curved, as is shown in Fig. 1. The standard 28 extends some distance up above the headbar 24 and some distance down below the lower ed e of the anchor-plate 27. The shank 31 of a p ow B is attached to the said standard 28, and the point 32 of the plow is secured to the curved portion of said standard, as is shown in Fig. 1, and, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the point 32 of the plow is readily detachable and is independent of the shank, so that said oint may be replaced if broken or sharpens as may be needed. The shank 31 of the plow B is perfectly straight and smooth, the straight portion commencing just above the'point 32. A horizontal guidelate 33 is secured to the said standard 28 at its left-hand side, and said guide-plate 33 extends forward almost in ahnement with the forward end of the head-bar 24. The forward portion of the guide-plate 33 is curved inwardly and in direction of the'right-hand side of the machine until the forward end of the said uide-plate 33 is practically in aline ment wit 1 the central longitudinal portion of the standard 28. This guide-plate 33 at its lower rear portion is provided with an inclined cutting edge 34, preferabl beveled at both sides of the plate, which e e serves to trim and straighten the sides of the ditch. A second plate 35 is secured likewise to the left-hand side of the said standard 28 at a point below the left-hand guide late 33, against which the lower plate 35 a uts, and the forward vertical edge 36 of this lower late 35 is a cuttin edge, being beveled upon 0th sides of the p ate, and connects with the cutting edge 34 of the plate 33. The cutting edge 36 is adapted to cut the sod when the work of digging the ditch is commenced. Hangers 37 extend downward from the righthand side of the headbar 24. These hangers are straight at their upper portions and are then curved downward and to the right,

the curvature of the rear hanger being more 6 pronounced than that of the forward hanger, and the rear hanger is much longer than the forward hanger. These hangers are usually secured in position by means of a clampingplate 38, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, although other means may be employed. The lower ends of both of the hangers are vertical, and the lower end of the forward hanger is made to engage with the inner face of the lcft-hand guide-plate 33 at the forward end of said rear hanger 37, being preferably flush with the outer face of said hanger. The righthand guide-plate 39 is curved at its forward end in direction of the forward hanger, and the inwardly-curved portions of both of the guide-plates are usually secured to the lower end of said forward hanger by means of the same bolt. At the lower rear portion of the right-hand guide-plate 39 a beveled cutting edge 40 is formed, correspondin to the cuttin" edge and a knife 41 is secured to the lower end of the rear hanger 37, the outer face of the knife beim flush with the outer face of said righthamf guide-plate 39. The lower edge of this knife is preferably inclined downwardly and 5 forwardly to a greater or lesser extent, and its forward vertical edge 42 is the cutting edge. This knife acts as a sod-cutter for the right-hand side of the ditch, the cutting edge 36 of the plate 35 acting in the same capacity IO( at the left-hand side of the ditch. I desire it to be understood that the lower edges of the said guide-plates 33 and 39 may be sharpened from their inclined cutti v edges to their forward ends. An u wai gl ing and rearwardly-curved racket 43 is secured to the upper end of the standard 28, and a rod 44 is attached to or made integral with the upper end of said bracket 43, which rod 44 extends vertically downward nearly in as far as the lower left-hand plate 35. A spring 45 is loosely coiled around this rod. The rod 44 at its lower end is loosely passed through an opening in a transverse bar 46,

against which the lower end of the spring 45 i has bearing, as is best shown in Fig. 3. This bar 46 is attached to a horizontal foot 47, extending from the left-hand side of a clearingwing C. This clearing-wing C consists of a body portion 48, more or less rectangular 12* and which stands at an acute angle to the right-hand side of the shank of the plow and the right-hand edge of the plow-standard, the inclination of said body 48 being rearward and in direction of the right-hand side 1 2 of the machine. At the inner edge of this body 48 a tongue 49 is formed, as is shown in Fig. 3, the said tongue being adapted to 34 on the left-hand guide-plate 33, 9o

lide in the said groove 29. In this manner he wing C has uided movement in a vertial direction on t iesaid standard and relative the shank of the plow. In the further contruction of thewin a hood 50 is employed, Jcated at the to 0 the wing and )referabl y ategral with the ody48 thereof. hishood 1S 'iven more orless of aslight upward slope and xtends beyond the outer or right-hand face i the said bodyof the wing. The said hood inclined to the right and forwardly from he rear vertical edge of the wing to and bel'ond the right-hand edge thereof, the hood beng more or less triangular in general forumion, and a switclnplate 51 is made integral rith this hood, said switch-plate being more -r less concaved at its outer or right-hand face. .he said switch-plate 51 extends diagonally lownward across the shank of the plow in diaction of its left-hand side. A guard-plate 2 is provided for said switch-plate 51, being coated at its forward edge, and this guardilate is inclined from its u per edge dow'nvardly and in direction of the left-hand side If the machine, meeting the forward edge of he said switchlate at its bottom portion. in fact, the guar plate 52 is exceedingly narow at its lower end and wide at its upper nd. It will be observed that the wing and heconneeted switch are free to move up and lown relative to the standard and the shank if the plow.

The ditchin mechanism is pivotally sus landed from t 1e beam A, and this is accom :lished by pivoting a link 53 to the vertical nember of the head-bar 24 at the front and 0 theright-hand member of the beam A 31d also through the medium of a wider link $4 in the shape of a channel-iron, which is ivoted between the side members of the said earn at a point adjacent to the axle and is ivoted to the wider rearportion of the headar 24 by means of a suitable pivotrpin 55, as 5 shown in Fig. 3. The lower end of a rackiiar 56 is pivoted on the said pin 55, and this lack-bar is passed up through the yolre 18, the

leeth of the rack-bar engagin with the teeth If the pinion at the rear 0% the beam and he friction-rollers 23 engagin with the plain lack surface of the said rackat, as is shown n Fig. 1.

When the machine is to be carried to or rom the scene of operation, the crank 15 is urned so as to cause the rack-bar 56 to ravel upward and bring the ditchi v mechinism up close beneath the beam as is hown in Fig. 1, whereupon the point of the )lOW will be above the surface of the ground. N hen the ditch is to be commenced, the :rank 15 is turned so as to carry the rack-bar i6 downward a sufiieient distance to cause he lowoint to enter the ground the deired dept or to such a depth as not to seriausly embarrass the team drawing the machine. The pawl 17 is then made to on age with the ratchet-wheel 16, and the dite ling mechanism is held in its adjusted position, and at such time the bottom portion of the wing will rest upon the surface of the ground. As the machine is drawn forward a shallow ditch will be made, and as the earth is thrown up by the plow it will travel u 3 the plain surface of the plow-shank until it strikes the switch-plate 51 and will then be directed by said switch to the right-hand side edge of said plow-shank and will fall on the ground at the mouth of the ditch, and as the machine advances the wing C, having the inclination above described, will gather u this dirt and sweep it away from the mout i of the ditch,

leaving that portion of the ditch clear. The ditch is then completed by means of successive tri s of the machine, the ditching mechanism eing lowered as far as desired and held in adjusted position at each trip, the o oration being the same throughout. At t in initial operation the cutters 36 and 42- cut the sod and will sever any roots that may extend across that portion of the field where the ditch is to be made, and the lates 33 and 39 guide the oint of the plow, iolding it in the center of t is ditch, as is shown in Fig. 2, and the cutting edges of the said guideplates 33 and 39 serve to trim and straighten the side portions of the ditch.

A draft device 57 is attached to the forward hanger 37 at a point between its u per and its lower ends. By thus hitching the raft device to the said standard above the forward ends of the guides the point of strain is brought near the oint of work, enabling the machine to be our t very light. 7

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. In a ditching-machine, a beam, a ditch ing mechanism beneath the beam, links piv otally supporting said mechanism from said beam, a pinion carried by the beam, means for controlling the movement of the pinion, a pivoted guide operating in conjunction with the pinion, and a rack-bar pivotally oonnect ed with the ditehin mechanism and passed through the said guide to an engagement with the said pinion. K

2. In a ditching-machine, a wheel-s11 ported beam, a ditching mechanism, lin pivotall connecting the ditching mechanism wit the beam, said links being capable of occupying a folded position or a vertical position beneath the beam, and means for adjusting the ditching mechanism, comprising a shaft carried by the beam, a crank-arm on said shaft, provided with a ratchet-section, a pawl for enga ement with the ratchetsection, a yoke loosely mounted on the shaft, a pinion secured to the shaft between the members of the yoke, a rack-bar pivoted to a portion of the ditching mechanism and passed through the yoke to an engagement with the said pinion, a guide-bar for the rackbar, and rollers mounted on the guide-bar.

3. A plow comprising a strai ht smooth shank and a forwardly and downwardly curved point, and a clearing-wing extending rearwardl and outwardly from the outer edge of the plow-shank and having guided movement to and from the plow-point.

4. In aditching-machine, a )low comprising a strai ht smooth standar and a downwardly and forwardly curved point, a clearing-wing mounted to slide at one side of the shank, a switch-plate extending from said clearing-wim dia onallyover the shank of the plow, and ailoozf connecting the said upper pprtion of the said wing with the said switchp ate.

5. In a ditching-machine, a plow consisting of a straight shank having a smooth outer face and a downwardly and forwardly curved point, a standard to which the plow is attached, a clearing-wing extending rearwardl and outwardly from the outer edge of the p ow-shank and having guided movement on the plow-standard, a switch-plate having its inner face concave, which switchplate extends downward and dia onally across the front face of the plow-s iank, a guard for the forward edge of the switchplate, and an upwardly and outwardly in clined hood at the upper portion of said wing and connected with the said switchplate, a foot extending inwardly from the bottom of said clearing-wing, a bracket attached to the said standard at its upper portion and provided with a downwardly-extending section, a barattached to thesaid foot and mounted to slide on said downwardly-extending section of the bracket, and a spring carried b the said extension of the bracket, having ear ing on the said bar, which spring is placed under tension as the combined clearingwing its hood and switch-plate are moved in an upward direction.

6. In a ditching-machine, a plow compris ing a shank havin a strai ht and smooth forward face and a orward y and downwardly curved point, a spring-controlled combined clearing-win ,hood and switch-plate mounted to slide re atively to the longitudinal axis of the shank of the plow, the switch-plate extending diagonally across the front face of the plow and the win at an acute angle rearwardly and outwardl 1 from an edge of the shank, a wheel-sup orted beam, a head bar carrying the said p ow, links connecting said head-bar with the said beam, and mean: for raising and lowering said head-bar anr holding it in adjusted position.

7. In a ditching-machine, a head-bar, plow comprising a straight shank and a for wardly and downwardly curved point, tln plow being carried by said head-bar, stand ards extending down from said head-bar guide-plates attached to the said standards which guide-plates are curved at their for ward ends and brought substantially to gether opposite the central lon itudinal por tion of the shank, one of the said guide-plate extending farther rearward than the other the distance between the working surfaces 0 the guide-plates being substantially the sami as the width of the shank of the plow, and sod cutters carried by the rear lower portion 0 the said guide- )latcs.

8. In a ditching-machine, a head-bar, plow comprising a straight shank and a for wardly and downwardly curved oint, thl plow being carried by the said cad-bar, standards extending down from said head bar, guide-plates attached to the said standards, which guidcplates are curved at thei forward ends and brought substantially to gether opposite the central lon itudinal por tion of the shank, one of the said guide-plate extending farther rearward than the other the distance between the workin surfaces 0 the guidelates being substantia y the saml as the wi th of the shank of the plow, sod cutters carried by the rear lower portion 0 the said uide-plates, the lower edges of thsaid gui e-plates adjacent to the said sod cutters bein inclined and sharpened, i sprin contro led combined clearm -wing switc 1-plate and hood mounted to sli e rela tive to the shank of the plow, the wing ex tending rearwardly and outwardly from th shank, the switch-plate extendin diagonall in a downward direction at the ront face 0 the shank, a wheel-supported beam, link connecting the head-bar with the said beam and means for raisin and lowering the head bar and parts carried thereby.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence 0 two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER UMSTEAD.

Witnesses:

JAMES W. LOURIE,

HENRY A. SNYDER. 

